Formation of massive star clusters with and without iron abundance spreads in a dwarf galaxy merger

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution simulations to explore how star clusters form with or without iron abundance spreads during dwarf galaxy mergers, revealing the processes leading to nuclear star cluster formation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation mechanisms of star clusters with diverse chemical properties in dwarf galaxy mergers through detailed numerical simulations.

Findings

Star clusters form with and without [Fe/H] abundance spreads.

Clusters with spreads originate from contaminated gas in seed clusters.

Nuclear star clusters are formed from merged, diverse stellar components.

Abstract

To study the formation of star clusters and their properties in a dwarf-dwarf merging galaxy, we have performed a numerical simulation of a dwarf-dwarf galaxy merger by using the Tree+GRAPE $N$-body/SPH code ASURA. In our simulation, 13 young star clusters are formed during the merger process. We show that our simulated star clusters can be divided into two types: with and without [Fe/H] abundance variations. The former is created by a seed star cluster (the first-generation stars) formed in compressed gas. These stars contaminate the surrounding gas by Type II supernovae (SNe). At that time, the energy injection is insufficient to induce an outflow of the surrounding gas. After that, the contaminated gas falls into the seed, thereby forming a new generation of stars from the contaminated gas. We also show that most star clusters are formed in the galactic central region after the second encounter and fall into the galactic center due to dynamical friction within several hundred Myr. As a result, close encounters and mergers between the clusters take place. Although the clusters with shallower gravitational potential are tidally disrupted by these close encounters, others survive and finally merge at the center of the merged dwarf galaxies to create a nuclear star cluster. Therefore, the nuclear star cluster is comprised of various stellar components in [Fe/H] abundance and age. We discuss our work in the context of observations and demonstrate the diagnostic power of high-resolution simulations in the context of star cluster formation.